Secondary Recruiting Uncovers Another Gem: Nick Reddish Film Review
- Max Uretsky
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Notre Dame's 2026 class already boasts some elite blue-chip talent in the secondary, with players like Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, and Ayden Pouncey. Wildly underrated 3-star Chaston Smith is also a part of that position group, but the Irish were not quite finished there.
Art by The Irish Tribune
Defensive Backs Coach Mike Mickens has been an absolute star this recruiting cycle, and just helped secure another commitment, this time 3-star safety Nick Reddish, out of Charlotte, NC. It's hard to put into words how special this 2026 class has become as a whole, but the secondary specifically is now littered with talent that could be the defensive staples for years to come in South Bend. Reddish, who missed the majority of his Junior season with an injury, has the type of skill set that makes him likely to see a jump in his recruiting ranking with what should be a strong Senior campaign. There was plenty to take away from his earlier game film that makes me confident in his abilities, and I will break down some of the things that stood out the most. As always, each trait will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it!
Mental Processing: Very Good (6)
Reddish is a player who has strong recognition skills, even going back to his Sophomore year. He does an excellent job of locking up his assignment while still reading the eyes of the QB, allowing him to disengage at the last second and jump another route in his area. He also has good read and react time vs the run and quick pass game, getting downhill in a hurry from a split safety look, limiting yardage by the offense. When he is lined up as a single high safety, he understands when to match with a player running through his zone, making it difficult for the quarterback to find an open window to throw to. Although his injury cost him his Junior season on the field, off the field, he was still able to learn and soak up even more knowledge, which should have him even more prepared as he enters his final high school season.
Run Support/Tackling: Very Good (6)
When Reddish is playing as a deep safety, he displays very good change of direction with the way he can plant his back foot and drive, allowing him to help play the run from depth. He is a big hitter who knows how to attack the ball as he tackles, leading to some forced fumbles. He has the ability to play in the box as well, doing a good job of keeping his outside shoulder free when he is the containment player near the line of scrimmage. Reddish has an excellent pursuit and hustle quality about his game, with a willingness to chase down ball carriers from the opposite side of the field and never giving up on the play. Reddish is definitely a player you can move around based on the down and distance, with run support not being an issue regardless of alignment. He could also carve out a role for himself on special teams coverage units due to his pursuit, hitting, and proficiency at leveraging ball carriers.
Coverage Skills: Very Good (6)
A lot of safeties, especially young ones, excel in Zone OR Man Coverage, rarely both, but Reddish shows some plus value in both areas, which makes him an even bigger get for Notre Dame. Because of his awareness and ability to read the QB's eyes in Zone, he is often able to close on a receiver before the ball is even delivered. He possesses the recovery speed to get over the top on vertical routes when playing from a Cover 1 look, and has a good feel for when to turn and locate the ball to try to make a play on it. He has the foot quickness and mirroring ability to play tight ends and slot WRs in Man Coverage with the uncanny skill to take the proper angle to undercut out-breaking patterns. Reddish does a good job of flipping his hips and staying right on the hip pocket of receivers running slant routes. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well he held up as a cover safety regardless of where he lined up, and I believe this will be the trait that bumps him to a 4-star before his high school career is finished.
Ball Skills: Good (5)
Although Nick Reddish may not possess elite hands or catch radius, he makes more than enough plays on the ball to solidify himself as a blue-chip safety. Because he does such a good job of staying in phase in Man Coverage, he is in a position to use his off-hand to break up passes more often than not. Snagged multiple interceptions as a Sophomore by getting a good jump on a pass because of his high football IQ. He is very physical at the catch point, playing through the receiver's hands to disrupt passes. As mentioned above, he does not panic when he is taken vertically, choosing the right time to turn and locate the ball in the air so he can try to make a play on it. I'm excited to see how this area of his game improves as a Senior, and he has the potential to be a ball hawk at the next level.
Reddish will most likely be the last safety added this recruiting cycle, but certainly not the least. His skill set meshes well with the other players that have already committed and sets Notre Dame's defensive back room up for a long time. Mike Mickens has done an excellent job reeling in top-level talent under Head Coach Marcus Freeman, and Notre Dame continues to be at the center of conversations around who will end up with the best 2026 class, which is a testament to how far the Fighting Irish have come in the world of recruiting.
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